Shelter for use adjacent the side of a swimming pool

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a shelter to be placed along the side of a swimming pool and arranged to have a portion extending from the side of the pool over the water. The portion of the water over which the shelter extends, preferably includes the ladder associated with the swimming pool and provides a closed space so that a swimmer can enter the shelter directly from the water, mount the ladder, and thus be inside that portion of the shelter adjacent the pool. With the shelter being formed of transparent material, a &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;greenhouse&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; effect is achieved. Furthermore, heat from a heated pool also warms the shelter and thus affords users of the pool an enclosed, warm area in which to dry, change, etc.

[ Jan. 14, 1975 SHELTER FOR USE ADJACENT THE SIDE Primary Examiner-Harvey C. Hornsby Assistant Examiner-Robert Pous Attorney, Agent Wiles & Wood OF A SWIMMING POOL [76] Inventor:

P.O. Box 489, Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. 92067 Mar. 22, 1973 Arthur E. Meyerhoff, Sr.,

, 0r FirmWegnerr, Stellman, McCord,

,, [22] Filed:

[57] ABSTRACT The present invention provides a shelter to be along the side of a swimming Appl. No.: 343,919

placed [52] us. 4/172, 135/4 R, E04h/3/16 p and arr g d t ave a portion extending from the side of the pool [58] Field of Search.............. 4/172, 172.11, 172.12;

135/5 R 4 R over the water. The portion of the water over which the shelter extends, preferably includes the ladder as [56] References Ci d sociated with the swimming pool and provides a eLl hn m ew S r. m wmm u te m rt d m o h m t mn ra r ne a h w e t w wmw d d h m mm w d l d 65 mn ilm SC n m0 mC .1 333 Wmhm W C S t t f 006 aefgtso LO D- t ea e wnfluu e n m wm ohnm" P m St lsdo i a m w mm m W henmmo y he u ww s ewmu mdm mh M cd.mWafifw MXHXUXRH R1222 .L y M I N7 l 1 4 4 m 4 m4 m T m N m U E m .m M m mu mm P nunnm S n m m H E m mm Wm T ting; Adh ouow T ne oaoefl SANWGHGRP D E9474990 2566677 199999999 NHHHHHHHH U160O050013 l 1 15250 0 5 426982 w 18833 6 29044696 ,J w 233333 135/5 R X 2 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures Barker SHELTER FOR USE ADJACENT THE SIDE OF A SWIMMING POOL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Swimming pools have become relatively commonplace and in cooler areas, the water of the pool is very often heated to permit use of the pool beyond the summer season. In cool weather, however, the swimmer leaving the pool experiences a sudden chill as the water temperature often is much warmer than the surrounding air temperature, and the discomfort is often great enough to discourage use of the pool in chilly weather. While warm bathhouses or cabanas are sometimes provided in the nearby areas, there is no way the swimmer can avoid being chilled in traversing the distance from the pool to the bathhouse or cabana.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a shelter, preferably made of transparent material, and designed to fit adjacent the edge of a swimming pool. The side walls of the shelter extend over the pool, preferably including the pool ladder, and a front wall extends downwardly and outwardly from the shelter over the ladder and terminates closely adjacent the surface of the water. The cooperation of the extension of the side walls and the front wall provides a closed area over a portion of the surface of the pool, which area opens directly into the interior of the shelter.

With at least some of the walls of the shelter being made of transparent material, a greenhouse effect is achieved whereby the interior will become quite comfortably warm if sunlight is available. Furthermore, when the water in the pool is heated, warmth from the water has direct access into the interior of the shelter so that the latter is heated to a comfortable degree even in cloudy weather and on chilly clays. Furthermore, the shelter provides a wind-free area so that the bather may emerge from the pool directly into the shelter and dry and change in comfort. Preferably, the lower portion of the front wall may be lifted by the swimmer to gain access to the closed area described above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a shelter embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the shelter of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a top view of the shelter of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As shown in the drawings, the shelter of the pres ent invention is generally rectangular in shape and is positioned at the side of a swimming pool. The shelter includes a support structure in the form of vertical corner posts 11, I2, 13, and 14, and vertical side posts and 16. Four frame members l7, 18, 19 and 20, form the bracing for the top of the shelter, and four similar frame members form the rectangular bracing for the bottom. Two of such frame members 21 and 22 are shown. Horizontal braces 23, 24, 25 and 26, reinforce the frame structure shown and diagonal braces 27 are provided at the lower end of each of the posts to brace the same and secure them to the lower frame members.

Extending downwardly and outwardly from the posts 12 and 13 is a pair of diagonal braces 28 and 29. The

housing formed by the support structure is provided with a door 30 for access into the interior of the shelter. The top of the shelter is covered with a top wall 31 which may have a decorative valance 32 and the side walls 33, 34 are covered preferably with flexible transparent material such as a plastic. A rear wall (not shown) preferably constructed of the same material as the side walls extends between the rear posts I1 and 14 to close off the rear of the structure.

Plywood panels 35 and 36 extend forwardly of the braces 28 and 29 as extensions of the side walls 33 and 34, with the extensions slanting outwardly and inwardly from the structure to terminate closely adjacent or even in the surface of the water in the pool. Preferably the structure is arranged so that the side walls 35 and 36 include the ladder 37 which provides a means ofgetting into and out of the pool.

Extending between the side wall extensions 35 and 36 is a front wall 40, also made of flexible material, with the edges 41 and 42 of the front wall being secured to the front edges of the extensions 35 and 36. The lower portion 43 of the front wall is not secured to the edges of the extension to provide a flap which may be raised by the swimmer in order to enter or leave the pool. The lower portion 43 of the front wall is held in place by a weight in the form of a bar 44 that extends along the lower edge thereof.

As will be clear from the foregoing, the interior of the shelter 10 is protected from the elements, rain and wind, and may be warmed by the heat of the sun if sunlight is available. Because of the fact that the side wall extensions 35 and 36 in cooperation with the front wall 40 close off an area of the pool indicated at 45, the heat from the water in that area may flow directly into the interior of the shelter to warm the same.

By reason of the foregoing, a swimmer may enjoy the heated water of the pool even in inclement and cool weather, and be able to leave the pool directly into a warm shelter wherein he may dry and change without being subject to the chill he would otherwise suffer if he left the pool directly into the open air.

I claim:

I. A shelter adapted to be placed at the side of a swimming pool comprising, a support structure defining a housing, a front wall on the housing and extending outwardly and downwardly therefrom to terminate adjacent the normal water level in the pool, a pair of substantially rigid side walls on the housing and joined at their edges to opposite edges of the front wall to form therewith a substantially closed space over a minor portion of the area of the pool adjacent said side, a rear wall and a top wall on the housing co-operating with the front and side walls to form an enclosure, and means providing ingress and exit from the enclosure.

2. A shelter adapted to be placed at the side of a swimming pool adjacent the ladder for entering and leaving the pool comprising, a support structure defining a housing, a front wall on the housing and extending outwardly and downwardly therefrom over the ladder to terminate adjacent the normal water level in the pool, a pair of substantially rigid side walls on the housing and joined at their edges to opposite edges of the front wall to form therewith a substantially closed space over a minor portion of the area of the pool including the ladder, the lower portion of said front wall being free of the side walls to permit said lower portion to be raised giving access from the pool into said closed space, a rear wall and a top wall on the housing cooperating with the front and side walls to form an enclosure, and a door providing means of access into the interior of the enclosure. 

1. A shelter adapted to be placed at the side of a swimming pool comprising, a support structure defining a housing, a front wall on the housing and extending outwardly and downwardly therefrom to terminate adjacent the normal water level in the pool, a pair of substantially rigid side walls on the housing and joined at their edges to opposite edges of the front wall to form therewith a substantially closed space over a minor portion of the area of the pool adjacent said side, a rear wall and a top wall on the housing co-operating with the front and side walls to form an enclosure, and means providing ingress and exit from the enclosure.
 2. A shelter adapted to be placed at the side of a swimming pool adjacent the ladder for entering and leaving the pool comprising, a support structure defining a housing, a front wall on the housing and extending outwardly and downwardly therefrom over the ladder to terminate adjacent the normal water level in the pool, a pair of substantially rigid side walls on the housing and joined at their edges to opposite edges of the front wall to form therewith a substantially closed space over a minor portion of the area of the pool including the ladder, the lower portion of said front wall being free of the side walls to permit said lower portion to be raised giVing access from the pool into said closed space, a rear wall and a top wall on the housing cooperating with the front and side walls to form an enclosure, and a door providing means of access into the interior of the enclosure. 